10 Things to See and Do in Oklahoma City

A city that with a new and wildly successful basketball team, Oklahoma City is a sports-crazy place and the 27th most populous in the United States with a head count of nearly 1.35 million. The city limits stretch into Cleveland and Canadian Counties (no, not the country to the north) and is the second-largest city in the U.S. in terms of land.
The state capital is as American as it gets; rich in oil and petroleum while employing a large amount of armed forces members at the Tinker Air Force Base. Founded during the Oklahoma Land Rush of 1889 – a crazy concept where large portions of land were literally up for grabs on a first come, first serve basis – its population hit over 10,000 within a few hours of its founding. Since then, there has been plenty of action to soak up in the land of the Sooner.

10. Oklahoma City National Memorial

This memorial stands as a monument to the dream of a world without any radical violence or terrorism, especially that within its own lands. The Oklahoma City National Memorial is placed in honor of the Oklahoma City Bombing, the terrorist plot that was executed on April 19, 1995.

A site that elicits a lot of emotion, the National Memorial is the burial ground of all 168 victims of the tragedy, while another 650+ were injured during the event. The accompanying museum portrays the stories of all those affected by the bombing, which is the second largest terrorist attack on American soil of all time. Many speak of its inspiration, and others say it has changed their lives. Features include the twin bronze Gates of Time, a gorgeous reflecting pool, the Survivor Wall and Survivor Tree, and the Field of Empty Chairs; the monuments for each victim’s grave hand-crafted from bronze, glass as well as stone.

9. Chesapeake Energy Arena

The home venue of the Oklahoma City Thunder since the franchise moved from Seattle, Washington (then called the Super Sonics) for the 2008/09 season. It was once home to the Central Hockey League’s Oklahoma City Blazers until the team folded, as well as the Arena Football League team the Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz who have since changed venues.

For those who don’t know, the Thunder sports some of the best stars in the NBA Including Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant. Durant was league MVP in 2014, and is a six-time All Star, former Rookie of the Year and four-time scoring champion. The arena formerly known as the Ford Center seats over 18,000 and went through extensive upgrades when the Thunder arrived which cost over $120 million, but basketball isn’t the only event held here. In addition to sports, Chesapeake Energy Arena hosts concerts, family/social events, conventions, ice shows, and civic events.